POLICE forces in the West Midlands and Warwickshire are to receive a cash boost from the ill-gotten gains of convicted criminals.

The Home Office announced yesterday that West Midlands Police and Warwickshire Police would each receive a cut of the £5.5million being shared among the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

Criminal assets seized by police forces and other asset recovery agencies between October and December 2008 totalled £31.8million – half of which will now be shared between police, prosecutors and the courts.

West Midlands Police has been earmarked for £397,268.63 and Warwickshire Police will receive £9,172.95.

Since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into effect in 2003, more than £530million has been seized.

The process allows for a financial investigation of defendants’ assets.

Where it can be proved there has been gain from criminal conduct, the court can confiscate assets.

If the criminal does not pay up they face additional time being added to their sentence.

In Coventry schools and churches have been among the community organisations to have benefited from cash confiscated by police. Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker has welcomed the investment.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “This scheme is a great benefit for policing. Taking money from criminals makes crime far less profitable for them.

“At the same time, that money is ploughed directly back into the police force that seized it so they can use for their fight against crime in their area.

“Recovering more than £31million from criminals in the space of three months is a great achievement and I want to thank the police and other partners for their hard work in seizing the money and undermining criminal gangs.”